Electrical connection device



Sept. 1, 1925.

' P. HARTMANN ELECTRICAL CONNECTION DEVICE- Filed June a, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ill -P00Z Harl'mazza INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY-5 Sept 1, 192 5.

P. HARTMANN ELECTRICAL CONNECTION DEVICE Filed Ju ne :8, 1921 2 Shee tS -Sheet 2' Ma ZZIZW IN KEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 1, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATEN OFFICE.

POVL HARTMANN, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 ELECTRIC OUTLET com- PANY, INCL, or NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATIION or NEW YORK. I

ELECTRICAL CONNECTION DEVICE.

Application filed June 8, 1921. Serial- No. 475,876.

T 0 allwhom it may concern.

Be it known that I, Povr. HARTMANN, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and resident of the borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, city and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Connection Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electrical connection devices of the type commonly known as socket connections, lamp sockets, outlets and switches and has for its object to provide, a novel construction of maximum simplicity and low cost of production, and in which the labor of assembling-in the shop and con- .nectingup at the point of use is reduced to the simplest form and requiring no special skill in the workman. Other more specific objects of the invention will appear from the description hereinafter and the features of novelty will be pointed outin the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which show examples of my invention without de-' fining its limits, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section illustrating a socket. connection with the elements thereof disconnected Fig. 2 is a similar view showing said elements 'operatively connected; Fig. Y 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an end view of the male element of the connection; Fig. 5' is an end view ofthe female element thereof; Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are views illustrating another form of inale element and a co-op iti'ng female element; Fig. 9 is a face view of a wall outlet embodying my invention; Fig. 10 is a section thereof on the line 10-1O of Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is a view, partly in section, looking at right angles to Fig. 10 showing the elements of the outlet disconnected from-each other, and Fig. 12 is a sectional view showing the in vention applied to a switch.

In the example shown in Figs.-1 to 5 inclusive I have illustrated the invention as applied to a socket connection, which comprises a male member consisting of a shell 10 of suitable metal and a bushing 11 which may be internally screw-threaded in the usual manner, as indicated at 12, and which further may be provided with the customary set screw 13 whereby the male member is fixed in its intended location. The bushing 11, as shown, may be provided with a tubular neck 11* which has its inner end diverging outwardly, as shown in Fig. 1. The male member further comprises a body or plug 14 of suitable insulating material constructed with an integral extension 15 and having an axial bore 16 in registry with the, bore of the bushing 11, as shown in ed in the shelllO and about the neck 11! of the bushing 11 so as to provide an intimate connection between the parts and to'avoid the use of screws, screwthreading or other type of extraneous fastening devices for securing the body 14 and shell 10 together; in the preferred construction the neck 11 extends into and lengthwise of the extension 15 and thus serves to stiffen-the same, and

at the same time securely fixes the bushing 11 in place, the divergingend of said neck 11 resisting any tendency of the bushing 11 to shift in an outward, axial direction. Thebushing 11 preferably also overlaps the shell 10 and thus-adds to the security of the connection.

The female member of the connection comprises a shell 20 of suitable metal in which the body 21 of suitable insulating material is located, said body 21 being provided with a tubular extension'21 interiorly lined with the screw-threaded shell 22 which is formed with a projecting contact section 23 having at its end a transverse flange 24 which extends into the body 21. A second contact section 25 is located opposite to the section 23 and is similarly provided with a transverse flange 26 which also projects into the body 21 the latter being formed at the indicated points with an axial 'passage 2?. closed at its inner end, the section 25 ex tending beyond and across said closed end in the form of a resilient contact'member 28.,

juncture of the passage 27 and'chamber 29,

as shown in Fig. 1. Metallic strips 31 extend along thesurface of the chamber 29 at diametrically opposite points anda-long the annular shoulder 30, to which they'may be secured in any suitable manner, as'by means of rivets 32 embedded in-the body 21: 'he strips 31 are continued at one end 1n the form of resilient contact members 33 extending in the chamber 29 and at their -opposite ends terminate in resilient tongues- 34 which extend into the axial passage 27 its-external end is provided with an operatlocated, said springs being each formed with ".1 switch member 35 is located between the tongues 34 and iscarried by a shaft 36 which is journalled inthe body 21 and at ing head 37; the connection between the haft 36 and member 35 is effected by providing the latter with a recess 38 in which a projection 39 on the shaft is located.

On its outer surface the'body 21 is preferably provided with lengthwise extending lepressions. 40 in which flat springs 41 are a pair of integral lugs 42 preferably stamped therefrom and which project outwardly bebody 21 is also preferably molded into connection with the shells 20 and 22 so as to also provide a most intimate union between said elements, the rivets 32 being embedded in said body at the proper points during the molding thereof; the use of screws, screwthreads and other fastening means for securing the body and shell together is thus also avoided in the construction of the female. member of the connection in the illus trated form. It will be understood that the shell 20 and body 21 are formed with registering ope nin, s"20 and 21 respectively at" the proper point to permit the passage of the shaft 36 and switch member 35, these parts being embodied in the structure by inserting the shaft 36 from the left in Fig. 3 and then placing the head 37 upon the projecting end thereof and fixing it in place,

for instance, by splitting and turning over the endlof-said shaft to form projections through the bushing 11 and neck 11 thereof,

' 36*,as shown in 2, whereby the'head is .held against rotation relatively to said shaft."

To unite the male and female members in an operative and electrical manner, the customary terminal wires 0, a are threaded and the ends of said wires are stripped of insulation, this being done either before or after the threading thereof through the bushing. These'stripped ends a" are then each bent transversely and outwardly from the axial bore 16 across the end face of the extension 15 and back along said extension 15, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The extension 15 is then inserted into the chamber 29, with the wires in the position indicated and the stripped ends a thereof in registry with the contact members. 33 which are depressed against their resiliency and thus lie in firm 7 contact with the ends 0; of the wires 1; when the extension 15 is fully seated in the chamber- 29, as shown in Fig. 2.K.'The contact members 33 are preferably slit lengthwise, as indicated at 33*, so as to exert a scraping or cleaning action upon the wire ends a f as the two elements are-united. As this takes place, the lugs 42 of the springs 41,.

by contact with the flange 18, are pressed inwardly, this being readily possible because of the rounded edges of said lugs 42, and finally-snap into the apertures 19vwhich are brought into registry therewith, it/being understood that each lug 42 of each spring snaps into an independent aperture 19, the latter being spaced in. proper relationttoeach other to secure this-result; in this way the male and female members of the connection are securely locked against uninten tional separation and yet may ,be easily disconnected when desired lay-simply pressing the lips 41 inwardly to move the lugs 42 out of the apertures 19 and thus permit a ready separation, of the male and female elements. When the parts are connected as described, the ends a, of the wires on are firmly clampedagainst unintentional withdrawal and at the same time a perfect electrical connection is made between said wires and the contact members 33 without the use of-any terminal screws or other similar de vices, the operation ofcompleting the electrical connection being reduced to the utmost simplicity.

.To close the circuit which has been thus established, the switch member 35 is rotated. by 'a manipulation of the head 37 and, by exerting a camming action on the tongues 34, forces them outwardly into engagement with the contact sections 23 and 25 and thus brings the inner shell 22 and the contact member 28 into connection with the source of electricity with which the wires a are connected. As the tongues 34 are brought into contact with the sections23 and v25, the ends of said tongues will exert a rubbing or scraping action upon said sections whereby the latter -are maintained in a clean condiplressure upon the tongues 34, the latter. w' move toward each other .bytheir inherent resiliency and away from the sections 23 and 25, thus breaking the circuit. shell 22 may be used to receive a lamp, plug or any other device through which the elec-; trical current is to be transmitted for use.

By providing the shell with a large number of apertures 19whichare arran ed to co-operate in pairs to receive the (ion le lugs 42 of the springs 41, it is always possible to so unite the parts as to bring the actuating head37 of the switch-member 35 a into the most accessible position, in contraed in such a manner that the shell 10* and bushing 11* are rotatable asa unit relatively to the body or plug 14 and tubular neck 11 which are connected in the fornnof a unit, the body 14 preferably being molded or cast upon the neck 11 which, in this form, arate from the bushing 11". The loose connection between the combined neck'll and body 14 and the combined shell 10 and bushing 11 may be effected in any suitable manner as by providing the neck 11 with an annular fiam e b which projects upon an annular shou der 0- formed in the bushing 11". The assembling of the parts may be accomplished by first uniting the shell and bushing and the body and tubular neck, the latter at this stage eing minus the flange b and projecting beyond the body 14*, and then inserting the projecting end of said neck into the bushing and spinning it over upon the shoulder c to form the flange band thereby. uniting the arts against sep aration in an axial direction without interfaring with the relative rotation thereof;-

In this form the extension '-15 with which the body 14 is provided is referably of rectangular form and provided with surface recesses 15*, as shown in Fig. 7, the chamber 29 of the female member in such case being correspondingly formed, as illustrated in Fig. 8. Otherwise the constructionand op eration of this form of connection may be the same as in the form shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the extension 15 projecting into the chamber 29 with the wire ends a lying in the recesses 15 and in contact with the con- 'tact members 33 in the same way as previously described; the male and female ele ments of the connection'may also be locked against separation in the manner shown and described with respect to Figs. 1 to 5 inclu-f,

sive.

With the arrangement described it is pos sible to rotate the body 14 relatively to the The inner r shell 10 and bushing 11 or vice versa whenever, for any reason, this is desired as for, instance, to facilitate the connection of the bushing with the element to which. it is to be attached. It. is also possible with the form under discussion to rotate the body 14" after the bushing llLhas been secured in place to bring the wires'a. and contact members 33 into registry in a position in which the operating head 37 is in the mostfavor able location. .VVhen' the male and female members are connected infthe manner indicated in Fig. 2, relative rotation of the parts" will be prevented by the contact members 33 which (lie within the surface recesses'15", as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 7 .and which themselves are locked to the shell 10. by

means of the springs 41 and lugs 42.

In F igs. 9, 10 and 11 the invention is.em.-'

bodied in a wall outlet which, as shown,-

v 43 in which apertures 45 are formed-for the is sepaccommodation of suitable fastening devices whereby the shell 43 and body 44 are fixed in their intended location. The members 43 may be. formed by initially constructing the shell43 as a tube and then cutting "parts therefrom to leave connected sections which are bent transversely to provide said'memjoers 43, as shown in Fig. 11. The shell 43 may further includelugs 43 preferably stamped therefrom and embedded in the body 44.to resist any tendency of the shell and body to separate in axial directions. The body 44 is constructed with an axial passage 46 and with transverse grooves 47 which extend therefrom into registrywith recesses 48 and communicate with an interior chamber 46. The other member-of the outlet comprises a body 49 of suitable insulating material having an extension 50 and a shouldered portion 51 arranged to fit into asuitable opening of the customary face or wall-plate 52 which, as usual, is provided with openings for the accommodation of fastening screws '53. The body 49 is further provided with spaced apertures 54' into which the contactmembers of a customary plug are inserted in the well known way and with resilient contact devices 55 located in' said apertures 54, said devices 55 being continued across the end face of the body 49 and secured thereto by rivets 56, as shown in, Fig. 10, said rivets beingembedded in the body 49 during molding thereof, as in'the previous form. The devices 55 are further vided with a" taperinglugbS, as shown v in" Fig. 19.

85 comprises a shell 43 of suitable metal in the wires a are passed throu h the axial passage 46 and'the stripped en s a. thereof are bent transversely into thegrooves 47 and In assembling then back into the recesses 48, after which the extension 50 of thebody eels, insertedv into the chamber 46? with -the tongues 57 extending intothe recesses 48 into firm conends a thereof and preventsthe same 55 of Fig.'10, but are arranged-seas to 'pertact with the stripped ends a of thewires a to eifectthe electrical connection in the same way as previously described. The fastening screws 53 are then passed through the plate 52 and screwed into'suitable openings n the members 43 'to complete theoutlet and fix the parts against unintentional separation.

' In this form also'the use" gf, screws', screwthreading and slimilardevices for fastening the parts together .is done away with and the necessity for termlnal screws and other similar devices 'for connecting the wires-a is avoided, so. that the assembling of the parts to complete the electrical connection is also reduced to the utmost simplicity. The tapering lug 58, when the outlet is assembled, extends between the wires a or the stripped rom contacting with each. other and producing a short circuit. w In; Fig. 12 the invention 'isifshown embodied in a switch, the one member of the device being constructed and arranged in the same manner as in Figs. 10 and 11 in the present instance, however, the body 49* carries a switch member 59 operated by means of a handle 60 and thrown into and out of engagement with the-contact devices 55. which correspond to the contact devices mitthe switch member 59 to pass between said contact devices and out of contact therewith with a minimum of efiort. The form now being described mayalso include a cover or the like.

61 provided with an opening through which the handle 60 extends and secured to thebody 49 by means of oneor more suitable screws 'The method of assembling the switch elements of this form of my inven tion to include thesame in an electrical circuit is the same as in the form shown in.

Figs. 9, 10and 11.

In all forms of my invention the construc-' tion of the electrical connection, of whatever form it may be, and its assembling at the point of use or, in other words, on the job, are'reduced to the simplest form-andthe use of terminal screws, screw-threading for efi'ectlng a-umon of the parts and for connectlng thefswires, and other devices of a similar character is entirely avoided. By

directly molding the insulating or non-conshells, a most intimate union is provided lating body,

my hand.

vices and the possibility of unintentional separation is reduced to a. minimum.

Var1ous changes in the specific form shown and described may be made within the scope of 'the claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

of, a body of insulating material carrying the lamp contacts an supply contacts therefor, the said supply contacts being disposed on opposite sides of a recess inthe second insulating body into which the extension of extends, thesaid the first insulating body contacts having resilient portions tapered inwardly and clamping the bare ends of said conductors in spaced relation when the said extension is inserted in the said recess."

2. In an electrical connection, the com-' bination with supply wires having bared ends. of an attachment plug comprising two insulating bodies, one of said insulating bodies being formed with a passage for the supply wires and an annular extension-surrounding the passage and over which the bared ends of the. supply wires are bent, the otherof said insulating bodies being formed with a cylindrical recess to receive theannfi lar extension on the first mentioned insuresilient electrical contacts carried, within the recess .to yieldingly engage the bared ends of the supply wires, an clamp them and means to secure the two insulating bodies together.

=3. In an electrical connection, the combination with supply wires having bared ends, ofjan attachment'plug comprising two insulating bodies, one of said insulating bodies being formed with a passage for the annular extension being formed with grooves, in which the'bared ends rest, the other-of said insulating bodies being formed with a recess to receive the annular ex cylindrical tension on theifirst named body, resilient electrical contacts carried within the recess and adapted to extend into the grooves when the plug is in assembled relation to'yieldingly engage the bared ends of the supply wires and clamp them against the annular extension, and means to detachably connect the two insulating bodies;

ducting bodies directly into the metallic whereof I have hereunto set PovL HARTMANN.

In testimony d against the annular extension, 

